Workers at a town centre store in Worksop are still unclear about their future employment.

People working in the Matalan store off Eastgate are aware that the building's lease draws to an end in January, and that plans exist for it to be knocked down and rebuilt as a larger unit to house a different retail store, but as yet they have no further information.

A planning application was submitted to Bassetlaw District Council earlier this year, by national retailer T J Morris Ltd which operates Home Bargains, seeking permission to knock down the Matalan store to make way for the new proposal.

The plans were objected to by the Canal Trust who said: 'It is disappointing to see a familiar and prominent building replaced by one that is smaller, lower and less interesting. The south elevation, facing the canal, will be particularly insignificant compared with the existing building.

The Matalan store in Worksop that looks set to be demolished and rebuilt for alternative use next year.

placeholder image — The Matalan store in Worksop that looks set to be demolished and rebuilt for alternative use next year.

"This is a notable stretch of urban waterway, unique in Bassetlaw, and it deserves better'.

Employees at Home Bargains in Worksop said they understood a time frame of around a year is in place for the new development off Eastgate to be up and operating.

One said: "The building housing Matalan has to come down as it is slowly collapsing in to the canal - its foundations need attention."

It is understood that another factor in the development is the ongoing building of a new distribution centre near Doncaster to service the planned replacement store.

Traders in Worksop town centre are seeing a drop in footfall and urge people to use their local shops.

There are further losses to the town centre as long-standing menswear store Waddingtons is to close within weeks, and the British Heart Foundation charity shop, also on Bridge Place, is scheduled for closure.

Another town centre shop, Shoezone, has now indicated it will close early next year.

David Swain, manager at Cockney Rebel clothes shop on Bridge Place, said: "The town centre has been very quiet for some time, with the ongoing works to the car park and so on not helping. People want to be able to park, shop, and return to their car easily.

"We need more clothes shops and with places closing at this end of town, a loss in footfall is not what we need. Some good news would be welcome.

This BHF store in Bridge Place is set to close its doors early next year.

"Town centres are changing more rapidly than we ever thought they would. Incentives are needed to give potential shop owners a chance for a good start."

Both Matalan and T J Morris were approached for comment. A spokeswoman for TJ Morris said: "We have no information to release at this time."